Unity c# Raycast axis stuck on one axis

I DID use transform.forward instead of a Vector3.forward, and whilst it is rotating fine on the x axis, whenever I aim up and down it won't rotate on that axis, it just sort of "slides" up and down with the barrel gameObject it is referencing.

 public GameObject barrel;
 
 void Update () 
     {
         weaponSystem();
     }
 
     void weaponSystem()
     {
         //Weapon System for GUN
         //------------------------------
         Debug.DrawRay(barrel.transform.position, transform.forward * weaponRange);
         Ray gunRay = new Ray(barrel.transform.position,transform.forward * weaponRange);
 }